This Interview Was Staged - Part Two

Isaac MB

A mere few weeks after our first interview, I was able to sit down with actor and sophomore Mil Eichenlaub for a second part to the Collier Post’s This Interview Was Staged miniseries. Mil and I had an amazing time talking about elderly special effects, cast communication, and execution scenes involving the Peanuts gang. This is part two of many, so don’t worry, dear reader; there’ll soon be even more where this came from!

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Once again, my questions and comments during the interview are all bolded.

I am here with Mil Eichenlaub! How are you feeling today?

MIL: I’m feeling great! We just had rehearsal, it was fun. I had a good time.

Awesome, awesome. Your birthday was recently; how are you feeling about doing your birthday in the middle of all this rehearsal stuff?

MIL: I don’t mind it, it gives me more of a reason to come to school.

Awesome! So, just basic questions about this... What character are you playing? What’s their deal?

MIL: Constance Flugelbert. She is… The donor of the theater. She supports it with her copious amounts of wealth, and she’s a very old woman. Very old, 90 year old woman.

[laughing] Very, very old… Fascinating. So this is more of a featured role than, like, a cameo or a lead. You’re sort of in the middle, there.

MIL: Yeah.

Do you have a background in theater at all, or is this, like, your first time?

MIL: All throughout middle school, I was in the musicals… ‘cause we didn’t do plays, we only did musicals. I was in all of those, and I was more or less a featured character.

That’s fair! So you’re kind of… continuing on your legacy of showing up and being an important supporting role! Ms. Flugelbert, I know, is very important to the story, but you’re kind of on and off the stage. You have a lot of break time. Is there anything you like specifically about that, getting that kind of break time? Because I know a lot of the other characters, they stay on and they DON’T get off.

MIL: No, I would hate to be on the entire time. Like, I feel like one of my favorite parts about… being in plays and stuff, is when I get off and get to like, debrief. I get to be like, “phew!”

[laughing] Go over your lines and stuff again, yeah! Do you have a favorite thing about playing Ms. Flugelbert?

MIL: I think she is hilarious. I think she’s such a funny character, so well-written, I love the idea of being this old, sassy woman. I think I’ll grow up to be just like her.

You said you wanna be just like her. Is she your favorite?

MIL: I think I’m pretty biased.

She seems like your favorite! Here’s something I don’t think gets asked a lot in interviews: What is the worst thing about playing this character, if you think there is one?

MIL: The worst thing about Ms. Flugelbert… That’s a good question. Probably, I would say she… Repeats so much stuff. Like, she has her little bit that she keeps repeating, and I love it, and I think it’s funny and hilarious, but also… It gets repetitive.

It’s a lot.

MIL: It gets repetitive.

Does that make remembering your lines easier?

MIL: Yes, absolutely.

So, you’ve been rehearsing a lot lately, because… I know they’ve all been going through the later act, and you’re in that, mostly. What has been the best part about rehearsals for you?

MIL: I think, just seeing everyone come together, and… connect and communicate, is so inspiring. Seeing people be able to laugh about the show together, and even between each other, direct themselves. Like, obviously, Ms. Niemeyer’s our director, but seeing little details be decided between the cast, I just- I love that.

Yeah! That’s cute, that’s really sweet. Is there anything in this play that you are the most excited for people to see?

MIL: What am I most excited for people to see? I’m trying to think of aspects that aren’t just, “It’s such a fun show.”

You can say whatever you want.

MIL: Um… The Charlie Brown scene, I think, is gonna be really fun. And I’m really excited for it. I think people are gonna really get a kick out of that one.

That’s not even a scene that most of the cast is in, and I’ve heard that a lot of them really love that scene, so…

MIL: Yeah! I have no idea how it’s gonna go. I mean, I’ve read the script, but I have never seen them, like, block it, and I’m just hoping… that it is so good.

I think it will be! I mentioned costumes, briefly, do you know what your costume is gonna be, yet?

MIL: No. But I know it’s gonna be some kind of old lady wig.

Do you have any specific hopes for it?

MIL: I really don’t! The older looking I look, the better, I would say. It would be so funny if I had, like- if I drew on wrinkles.

So you’re going for as old as possible.

MIL: I think it would be hilarious.

Oh, I love that. Alright, this went a lot faster than the other ones, so I guess that’s it, then! Thank you very much for coming!

MIL: You’re welcome. Thank you!